The Nation Newspaper

Tag: route

  • Air Peace for mass route expansion

    Air Peace for mass route expansion

    The Chairman, Air Peace, Mr Allen Onyema, says the airline will in 2018 end air travel woes of most underserved destinations in Nigeria and the West Coast of Africa.

    Onyema said that the airline would also offer the flying public a preferred alternative on some key international routes in 2018.

    According to a statement by Mr Chris Iwarah, the airline’s Communications Manager, on Sunday, Onyema spoke at the management session to review the airline’s flight operations in 2017.

    Onyema said that the airline deserved commendations for rescuing Nigerian aviation industry and giving air travellers hope in the period under review.

    The airline chairman said he was quite satisfied that Air Peace was able to expand its fleet to 24 aircraft, in spite of the nation’s economic downturn and the aviation sector experienced in 2017.

    Onyema attributed the airline’s success in the three years of its existence to the unflinching support of the flying public and the quality leadership of its management team.

    The Air Peace chief said that the airline would remain grateful to its customers for their patronage over the years, urging the flying public to continue to trust the carrier’s services.

    According to him, Air Peace will continue to strive to sustain its uncompromising approach to safety, prioritisation of the comfort of its customers and jobs creation.

    He, however, said that the airline still has a lot of grounds to cover in its vision to transform air travel experience in Nigeria, West Coast of Africa and Dubai, Guangzhou-China, London, Houston, Mumbai and Johannesburg routes.

    He urged carrier’s management to brace up for the challenge of implementing the airline’s plan.

    Onyema said that this was to deepen air connectivity on many routes in the Northern part of Nigeria, including Kano and Yola, and other domestic routes.

    He expressed regret that industrial unrest by Air Traffic Control in Senegal compelled Air Peace to suspend the launch of its Freetown, Banjul and Dakar routes planned for Dec.15.

    Onyema, however, assured that the carrier would soon announce a new date for the launch of the three suspended West Coast routes.

    He said that the airline, which began flight operations to Accra-Ghana on Feb.16, was determined to expand to about nine destinations on the West Coast of Africa.

    Onyema added that the airline was awaiting the delivery of the two Boeing 777 Aircraft it recently acquired to start its flight operations to Dubai, Guangzhou, London, Houston, Mumbai and Johannesburg.

  • Dangote’s route to the presidency?

    SIR: Donald Trump’s presidency over there in the US is a veritable trail-blazer for every billionaire-businessperson anywhere in the world who aspires to be one. A smooth passage to any such presidency comes when the electorate becomes fed up with an unwieldy establishment and thence looks out for a departure from the norm.

    Aliko Dangote could begin by launching a retail chain modelled after Wal-Mart, with stores in the major urban centres of Nigeria that caters to that distinctive Nigerian market; in addition to this, Dangote could venture into “super-landlord” investment by building leasable residential estates of all categories in all the 36 state capitals for a start whilst emphasising central sewage processing and overall cleanliness by the tenants; each of these estates would be serviced by at least an outlet of a Dangote-Mart, say. By this means, Dangote would bring himself to an even fuller positive public reckoning as well as directly helping plug the inefficiencies of our governments in the areas of providing decent accommodation even at a good leasehood.

    Let us just imagine a mega-Dangote housing estate that caters to the very low-income earners who would be required to pay, say, N3000 monthly for a one-room self-contained apartment every month through an appointed estate agent in favour of the Dangote Inc.

    Would Aliko need to campaign much for the presidency under such circumstance?

     

    • Sunday Adole Jonah

    Federal University of Technology, Minna

  • BA slashes Abuja-London route fare

    BA slashes Abuja-London route fare

    British Airways (BA) has slashed fares on its Abuja-London route from the Nnamidi Azikwe International Airport (NAIA) to $277 for a one-way trip.

    The special fare will be available between now and June 30.

    British Airways Regional Commercial Manager, West Africa Kola Olayinka,  revealed this in a statement in Lagos yesterday.

    The normal flight on the route is $700.

    He also said: “BA recognises that the six weeks’ period that the Abuja International Airport was closed, was indeed a tough time for their loyal northern customers and the move to compensate them with a slashed fee is coming at a right time.”

  • Commuters stranded on Ikorodu-CMS BRT route

    the closure of the 1st BRT buses by Lagos Metropolitan Transport Authority (LAMATA) has started to take its toll on Lagos commuters, as hundreds of passengers were stranded on ever busy Ikorodu-CMS route

    LAMATA last Thursday closed the Ojota yard depot of the BRT operated by the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

    The closure, according to a statement signed by Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Dayo Mobereola was due to the inability of the operator to adhere to the laid down agreement

    But commuters yesterday lamented the shortage of buses on the routes which led to passengers scrambling to board the few available buses to island

    One of the passengers returning from New Year break lamented that he has been at the Ojota bus stop for hours without getting a bus.

    “It is survival of the fittest. You have to struggle with other passengers before you can get a space in the buses.  I hope government and the operator of the BRT will find lasting solution to the problems because the suffering masses”

    Another passenger, Mrs Ify James, lamented the closure of the BRT was uncalled for, as government did not make alternative provision to take care of fallout of the closure.

    “It is unfair on the part of the state government to take such an action without making provision for effect of the closure. Now people are suffering because of their action. lf Sunday could be rowdy like this, I don’t know how Monday will look like,” he said.

  • Arik Air introduces summer timings on Lagos-Jo’burg route

    Arik Air introduces summer timings on Lagos-Jo’burg route

    Arik Air  has introduced new summer timings on the Lagos- Johannesburg route,  its spokesman,  Mr Ola Banji said yesterday.

    He said  baggage allowance on the route has been increased for both Premier and Economy Class passengers.

    With the new timings which came into effect on June 15 this year,  outbound daily flights now depart the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and arrive into the OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg. Inbound flights will leave Johannesburg and arrive into Lagos at  next day.

    He said new baggage allowance, Premier and Economy class passengers from Lagos to Johannesburg can  now carry three pieces of luggage each with Premier passengers allowed a maximum weight of 32kg per piece and Economy passengers 23kg per piece.

  • BA launches route update

    British Airways has partnered with Langham Hotels, London fashion label PPQ, and renowned British model Georgia May Jagger for a special event on board its new Boeing 777-300ER.

    The event, according to a statement, is to celebrate new service updates on the Australian route.

    From this month, passengers travelling between Sydney and London will enjoy the new 777-300ER aircraft, the latest aircraft in the British Airways fleet boasting updates to all cabins on board. In addition, the Australian service will now fly into Terminal 5, British Airways’ award winning home at London Heathrow.

    With the move to Terminal 5, Australian passengers will be able to enjoy smoother and more seamless connections with British Airways vast European network and access to award winning lounges including over 100 retail and dining options.

    One very special guest at the event was British model Georgia May Jagger wearing Tech Empire dress by PPQ.

    “I’m always happy to support British Airways. It’s great to be here for this event and at such an exciting time for Australia,” said Georgia May Jagger. “I love coming to Australia and thanks to British Airways’ fantastic style and service. The journey from the UK was a joy.”

    Held in British Airways’ award winning Club World cabin, guests at the event were treated to a taste of the new Tiffin at The Langham afternoon tea. Featuring a selection of afternoon tea treats, and served in true Langham, Sydney style, the Tiffin continues the timeless British tradition of high tea, and the first to be served onboard an aircraft.

  • Motorists get alternative route in Lekki-Epe

    MOTORISTS opposed to the erection of toll-gates on the Lekki-Ajah Expressway got a relief yesterday. The Lagos State Government unveiled an alternative route for them.

    The two-way road, newly built and parallel to Eti-Osa-Lekki-Epe-Eti-Osa Expressway, will end the dispute between the government and some Lekki Penninsula residents over the management of the toll plaza by Lekki Concession Company (LCC).

    LCC was franchised by the government to upgrade about 49.36-kilometre stretch of the dual-carriage expressway and manage it to recoup its investment.

    The relief came on the heels of an announcement by the firm to introduce toll collection at the second plaza – the Conversation Plaza beginning from December 16.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Private Partnership (PPP) Mr. Ayo Gbeleyi was on the Lekki-Epe corridor yesterday to inspect the alternative roads.

    Gbeleyi and some senior government officials in his entourage were conducted round the 3.6-kilometre stretch by the Managing Director of Metropolitan Construction Company, Mr. Carlos Franji and Mr. Tony Fagbuaro.

    While inspecting the route from Chevron Drive to Oluwanisola Estate, Gbeleyi said the road would serve as an alternative for motorists, who are unwilling to pay the toll at Conservation Plaza.

    The new plaza is about 10 kilometres to Admiralty Plaza, where the introduction of toll sparked protests earlier in the year.

    Gbeleyi said the decision of the Governor Babatunde Fashola-administration not to force the toll on motorists informed the completion of the alternative route before the inauguration of the second plaza.

    He said the alternative route was fitted with furniture like street lights, comprehensive drainage system, dual walkway as well as functional road signs.

    According to him, the furniture would ensure safety and security of lives and properties.

    Besides, he said, the government would deploy security and traffic operatives to police the route.

    He said: “As the uptake in population growth, the road will get busy. The opening is a temporary opening. But by next Sunday, every construction work on the road would have been completed.

    “At that time, the road will no longer be lonely as motorist would ply the road constantly. Before now, there was no access to the community.”

    Mr Franji said the road was not only built to provide alternative for motorists, but also “to provide accessible road for residents of the community on the axis where the toll plazas were constructed.

    “We have designed the road to be the alternative road for the second toll plaza,” he said.